Life-work balance is a working culture that understands that life should come before work — you’ll most often hear it called work-life balance, but we very deliberately refer to it the other way around. Our health (both physical and mental), our family commitments, and our leisure time should all take priority over our careers, and the demands put on us by our employers should never compromise our wellbeing. By putting life ahead of work, we hope to reframe worldwide conversations about how we spend our time.
A healthy life-work balance means you’re able to thrive in your chosen career without it negatively impacting other areas of your life. You should be able to comfortably meet deadlines and satisfy the expectations of your employer without having to put in regular overtime or be ‘switched on’ at all hours of the day.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case — especially in the United States, which is considered to be the most overworked nation in the developed world. The average American works 1,767 hours per year, which is significantly higher than many other nations, including most of Europe — you can learn more about life-work balance in Europe in our European Life-Work Balance Index.
More than three-quarters of full-time US workers have experienced burnout at their jobs, and this imbalance between life and work can lead to a host of negative consequences for physical and emotional health — not to mention your social life!
Businesses that commit to ensuring their employees can enjoy a healthy life-work balance are likely to have a more engaged — and consequently more productive — workforce, while employees who take care of their physical health are less likely to take sick days, too.
Here at Remote, we understand the importance of work-life balance, and we champion companies and organizations that prioritize employee wellbeing — we want to help as many people as possible to enjoy rewarding and fulfilling careers.
Whether you’re in the US and looking to relocate, or you’re an overseas employer thinking about hiring remotely in the US, see how our employer of record service can help.